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Earlier this week, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that teams interested in acquiring Aaron Rodgers — such as the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants — might have to wait until the NFL Draft in late April for his decision. Now, the Vikings have taken themselves out of the running for the controversial QB.
On Wednesday morning, NFL insider Tom Peliserro reported that the Minnesota Vikings are rejected trade offers for second-year QB J.J. McCarthy and are no longer pursuing Aaron Rodgers at this time. Given what head coach Kevin McConnell has done with the Vikings in recent seasons, Minnesota was far and away the best landing spot for Rodgers, whose options are now the Steelers, Giants, or perhaps the Tennessee Titans.
The report confirms that the Vikings are moving forward with McCarthy to replace Sam Darnold, who signed with he Seattle Seahawks after leading Minnesota to a 14-3 regular season record before falling in the Wild Card round to the Los Angeles Rams last year. McCarthy was taken out of the University of Michigan with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but missed the entirety of his rookie year with a torn meniscus.
Following up on Peliserro’s report, Rapoport added that the Vikings “being out” on the mercurial 41-year-old signal caller will help bring “clarity” to the Vikings QB situation, and therefore the current quarterback market. In addition to Rodgers, notable free agents at the position include Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz, and Trey Lance.
#Vikings being out on Aaron Rodgers should help bring clarity. https://t.co/Vu1yUd0Sxa
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2025
If Rodgers does want to play in the NFL next season, his options are becoming increasingly tenuous. Both the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants are expected to be competitive next season — both are the betting favorites to finish last in their respective divisions — while the Steelers present a volatile situation given the egos/unpredictability of its top two wide receivers, DK Metcalf and George Pickens, and growing frustrations with head coach Mike Tomlin among Steelers fans. It’s also difficult to imagine Rodgers’ antics flying with Tomlin.
In 17 starts with the New York Jets in 2024, in which the team went 5-12 and missed the playoffs for the 14th straight year, Rodgers completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.